Smoking & Urology

I believe the most significant object of us surgeons in struggling against smoking is to define the harms of smoking as clearly as possible.

I wanted to clarify the frequently asked questions and issues my patients and especially their relatives are curious about smoking and diseases related especially to urology.

Contents of the “innocent” cigarette smoke must be the thing people want to learn:

Polonium – 210 (cancerogenic)

Acetone (nail polish remover)

Naphthalene (moth repeller)

Hydrogen Cyanide (gas chamber poison)

Arsenic (rat poison)

Ammoniac (toilet cleaner)

Carbon (Monoxide gas)

Nicotine and 3.885 toxic substance

Radon (radiation)

Methanol (missile fuel)

Toluene (thinner)

Cadmium (battery metal)

Butane (bottled gas)

DDT (insect killer)

Let’s collect the question “What possible harms do these many poisonous substances have, especially on urinary system?” under brief titles and clarify it:

Infertility

Sexual malfunction “impotence”

Urological Cancers

Kidney – related hypertension

Incontinence

Infertility

With what mechanism does nicotine lead to infertility?

Nicotine is believed to have an influence on central nervous system and decrease the efficiency of GnRH hormone, which has a key role in fertility and emitted from some centers in the brain. It has been proved that hydrocarbons, emerging as a consequence of the combustion of any substance, indicate these results by ruining the formation and synthesis of enzymes arranging the hormone production.

What influences do the above-mentioned cancerogenic and toxic substances have on semen?

The mentioned cancerogenic and toxic (poisonious) substances lead to chromosomal harm in males and genetic abnormalities in next generations, increase the low chance depending on sperm chromosomal harm and ruin the number and quality of sperms.

Sexual Malfunction In Males “Impotence”

In what ways does smoking lead to “erection problem”?

The erection problem which occurs as a consequence of smoking emerges as nicotine prevents arterial (with fresh and oxygenic) blood flow into penis and ruins the formation of blood chambers responsible for the erection of the penis. Presently, it is written that smoking leads to erection problems in addition to the compulsory “smoking is harmful” writings on cigarette boxes.

Urological Cancers

On the other hand, smoking has significant effects also on Urological Cancer development.

Bladder Cancer

Despite the fact that many factors such as age, sex, race, tendency of family, chronic infections and professions related to painting and leather works, smoking is the leading one among those factors.

What is the bladder cancer percentage in smokers?

Bladder cancer is 4 times more likely to develop in smokers than non-smokers. One third of bladder cancer cases are related.

In what ways smoking affects bladder cancer?

Cancer development is directly related to the time and inhalation of the cigarette smoke. The cigarette contents: nitrosamine, 2 naphthylamin, 4 aminodiphenyl and tryptophane metabolites in urine have been determined to be responsible for bladder cancer.

Does the bladder cancer development risk of a long-time smoker immediately stop?

No. The bladder cancer development risk turns to normal only 20 years after the individual quits smoking, which is longer than contracting period of cardio-vascular diseases and Lung cancer

What is the relation between other urinary system cancers and smoking?

Tobacco use has been determined the most significant external factor in kidney cancers. It increases the risk by 1.4-2.3. Cancer development is directly related to smoking period. Smoking is also responsible for the cancer of the collection system of kidney. Smoking worsens prognosis (the course of the disease) in prostate cancer cases.

Are passive smokers at risk of infertility and cancer?

Not only the active smokers, but also the passive ones are at risk of infertility and cancer. These people have nicotine in their serum and sperms. Studies indicate that children whose parents smoke have high level of cancer causing substances in their urine.

Relation between Kidney-Related Hypertension and Urinary Incontinence and Smoking
As in arteriosclerosis and familial hypertension development, smoking is the most significant risk factor in kidney-related hypertension.

Chronic Lung diseases and related coughing lead to urinary incontinence according to studies. Smoking causes the risk factor, especially in this patient group.